Impact of Text Message Reminders on Drug Adherence in Post-Liver Transplant Patients

Abstract

Non-adherence among post liver transplant recipients may lead to serious consequences. Hence, there is a dire need to improve medication adherence, particularly among post-liver transplant recipients. Till date, no sufficient data has been published related to our study from Sindh province or even from Pakistan. Therefore, this study will not only help highlight the rate of Medication non-adherence but also implementation of a particular method that could be more helpful to improve the adherence among the study population. The main objective of this study was to determine medication adherence in post-liver transplant recipients before and after text message remainders. A cross sectional study was conducted on 103 post liver transplant patients at Pir Abdul Qadir Shah Institute of Medical Sciences Gambat. BAASIS Scale was used to measure medication adherence among study subjects, after that text messages reminders were given to enrolled patients and adherence was measured again using the same scale to determine the impact of text message reminders on adherence. Among enrolled patients, majority of the study subjects were male, whereas only one participant was transgender. Mostly patients belong to rural areas. Majority of the patients were of matriculation pass, while minorities of the patients were primary pass. Majority of the patients were unemployed, while few had non-government jobs, whereas government job study subjects were in minority. Majority of the patients were of age from 41 to 50, where minority of the patients were aged from 61 to 70. Majority of the patients were prescribed four drugs, whereas no any patient was prescribed only one drug. Majority of the patients were prescribed two immunosuppressant drugs while only few study subjects were prescribed only one immunosuppressant drug. Initially 86% patients were non-adherent to therapy, but after text message reminders, adherence was improved from 24% to 80%. This study concluded that the rate of adherence was improved by giving text message reminders to the patients.